Storage enclosure for open loadbed motor vehicle

Abstract

A storage enclosure for a motor vehicle having a loadbed defined by opposed sidewalls, a load deck and a rear closure, such as a tailgate, includes a generally horizontal top wall extending between the loadbed sidewalls and a depending front wall having a hinged wall portion which may be positioned extending generally horizontally above the deck to form an enclosure space forward of the tailgate when in its closed position. The hinged wall portion may be positioned to extend vertically downwardly from the front wall at its hinge connection to increase the size of the enclosure space defined between the top wall and the load deck, the opposed sidewalls and the tailgate in its closed position. The hinged wall portion may be locked in either working position. The enclosure top wall may be secured to the opposed loadbed sidewalls at stake recesses and the front wall may have opposed recesses to accommodate the loadbed sidewall beam portions. The enclosure is particularly adapted for open loadbed vehicles such as light duty pickup trucks.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An enclosure for a loadbed of a motor vehicle, said loadbed comprising opposed sidewalls, a load deck, an access opening and a closure movable between open and closed positions with respect to said access opening, said enclosure comprising: a transverse top wall part adapted to extend between the sidewalls of said loadbed; and   a depending front wall connected to said top wall part and spaced from said access opening to define an enclosure space, said front wall including a first wall portion connected to said top wall part and a second wall portion connected to said first wall portion and movable between a first position wherein said enclosure forms a first enclosure space and a second position extending generally parallel to and above said load deck wherein said enclosure forms a second enclosure space.   
     
     
       2. The enclosure set forth in claim 1 including: means operable to lock said second wall portion in said first position.   
     
     
       3. The enclosure set forth in claim 1 including: support means for supporting said second wall portion in said second position.   
     
     
       4. The enclosure set forth in claim 3 wherein: said support means includes spaced apart depending legs, said legs including means for connecting said support means to said second wall portion for supporting said second wall portion in said second position.   
     
     
       5. The enclosure set forth in claim 4 wherein: said support means includes means cooperable with said second wall portion to prevent disconnecting said support means from second wall portion except by movement of said support means in a direction toward said access opening when said closure is in an open position.   
     
     
       6. The enclosure set forth in claim 1 including: opposed depending bosses connected to said top wall part and engageable with recess formed in said loadbed, said bosses being cooperable with means for retaining said bosses in said recess to secure said top wall part to said loadbed.   
     
     
       7. The enclosure set forth in claim 1 wherein: said front wall includes opposed recess cooperable with opposed longitudinally extending portions of said loadbed.   
     
     
       8. An enclosure for providing an enclosed storage space for a motor vehicle having a loadbed, said loadbed being defined by opposed generally parallel sidewalls, a load deck interposed between said sidewalls, means delimiting upper edges of said sidewalls, respectively, a rear access opening interposed between said sidewalls at one end thereof and a closure gate moveable between open and closed positions with respect to said access opening, said enclosure comprising: a generally horizontally disposed top wall part extending between said sidewalls;   a front wall connected to said top wall part and depending therefrom toward said load deck; and   a floor of said enclosure extending generally parallel to and spaced from said load deck and connected to said front wall and cooperable with said front wall, said top wall part, said sidewalls and said closure to form an enclosed storage space on said loadbed, wherein said floor is spaced from said load deck and said enclosure includes support means for supporting said floor above said load deck, and wherein said support means includes spaced apart depending legs and a base interconnecting said legs, said legs including means for connecting said support means to said floor for supporting said floor in said position extending generally parallel to said load deck.   
     
     
       9. The enclosure set forth in claim 8 wherein: said floor is connected to said front wall by means operable to provide for moving said floor to a generally vertical depending position connected to said front wall to provide an enclosure space defined by said top wall part, said front wall including said floor, said sidewalls, said load deck and said closure for said access opening.   
     
     
       10. The enclosure set forth in claim 9 including: means operable to lock said floor in said depending position.   
     
     
       11. The enclosure set forth in claim 8 including: opposed depending bosses connected to said top wall part and engageable with recess formed in said loadbed, said bosses being cooperable with means for retaining said bosses in said recess to secure said top wall part to said loadbed.   
     
     
       12. The enclosure set forth in claim 8 wherein: said front wall includes opposed recess cooperable with said means delimiting said upper edges of said sidewalls for retaining said enclosure on said loadbed.   
     
     
       13. An enclosure for a loadbed of a pickup truck for disposition adjacent to the rear access tailgate opening of said loadbed, said loadbed comprising a generally horizontal load deck extending between opposed vertical sidewalls, a rear access opening interposed between said sidewalls and a tailgate pivotable between a generally upright closed position and a generally horizontally extending open position, said enclosure comprising: a generally horizontal top wall part extending between said sidewalls and supported thereon;   a front wall depending from a transverse front edge of said top wall part and connected to said top wall part, said front wall including a first wall portion depending from said top wall part and a second wall portion hinged to said first wall portion and moveable between a generally horizontally extending position and a generally vertically depending position extending between said first wall portion and said load deck; and   support means for supporting said second wall portion in said generally horizontally extending position above said load deck whereby said enclosure forms an enclosed storage space defined at least by said top wall part, said first wall portion, said second wall portion, said sidewalls and said tailgate.   
     
     
       14. The enclosure set forth in claim 13 wherein: said first wall portion includes opposed recess cooperable with opposed longitudinally extending beam portions of said sidewalls, respectively.   
     
     
       15. The enclosure set forth in claim 13 including: means operable to lock said second wall portion in said depending position.   
     
     
       16. The enclosure set forth in claim 13 wherein: said support means includes spaced apart depending legs and a base interconnecting said legs, said legs including means for connecting said support means to said second wall portion.   
     
     
       17. The enclosure set forth in claim 16 wherein: said support means includes means cooperable with said second wall portion to prevent disconnecting said support means from second wall portion except by movement of said support means in a direction toward said access opening when said tailgate is in an open position.   
     
     
       18. The enclosure set forth in claim 13 including: opposed depending bosses connected to said top wall part and engageable with recess formed in said loadbed, said bosses being cooperable with means for retaining said bosses in said recess to secure said top wall part to said loadbed.